Energy Explored

Energy transition in Southeast Asia: Current trends

Notably in Southeast Asia, there's a growing emphasis on renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, driven by both environmental concerns and the region's abundant natural resources. However, key challenges lie ahead for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) journey to net zero over the next five years. Infrastructure development, regulatory frameworks, and investment constraints pose significant hurdles. Managing director of Markland Infrastructure Asia, Allard Nooy, joins Reed Smith's Matthew Gorman and Joyce Fong, to share their insights and vision for the future of ASEAN's energy landscape by 2030.

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De-carbonizing transatlantic trade: The interplay between CCUS in the U.S. and the EU’s CBAM

In this episode, Pittsburgh’s energy transactional partner, Ryan Haddad and Brussels’ international trade and customs partner, Yves Melin explore how CCUS and CBAM could interact in the U.S. and EU. Their discussion includes: 

• Economic incentives associated with carbon capture in the U.S.
• Requirements of U.S. exporters to EU importers of U.S. goods 
• How CBAM creates an incentive for the decarbonization of industrial processes outside of the EU

Horizon scanning: Recent developments in energy transition

Energy partners Simone Goligorsky and Sachin Kerur are joined by general counsel Mayen Ekong of Gurin Energy to discuss some of the current key areas of energy transition. In this podcast, some of the topics they focus on are:

• The continued growth of the hydrogen market and where it’s headed
• The impact of the pandemic and effects of the Ukraine war on energy transition
• How ESG has intersected and aligned with energy transition to renewables
• The legal, regulatory and contractual landscape for both the global hydrogen market and ESG

Tips for mitigating greenwashing risks

Greenwashing poses significant risks to businesses, including reputational damage, legal repercussions, loss of consumer trust, and hindered progress towards genuine sustainability. To help your business reduce these risks, San Francisco partner Todd Maiden and Pittsburgh associate Casey Snyder will discuss the type of greenwashing claims they have encountered in their practice and provide insight on mitigating these risks.

Nuclear power plant disputes and Russian nuclear diplomacy

Dubai partner James Willn and associate Finlay Donaldson share their insights on the complexities of nuclear power plant disputes and discuss how these interact with global nuclear diplomacy in regard to sanctions. 

From a disputes perspective, James and Finlay discuss the unique issues relating to third-party liability, expert evidence and confidentiality. The pair also outline the key considerations regarding nuclear diplomacy at present, including the delicate situation at the Zaporizhzhia power plant and the challenges in imposing sanctions against Russia’s nuclear sector. 

Navigating due diligence in supply schemes: Insights from Munich and Brussels

Partners Daja Apetz-Dreier (Munich) and Yves Melin (Brussels) share their extensive knowledge and insights into the evolving landscape of due diligence in supply schemes in Europe. They discuss the implementation of Germany’s new Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (initially known as the Supply Chain Act when it came into force January 1, 2023) and the two new texts that the European Commission is adopting: the corporate sustainability due diligence directive, and the forced labor regulation. Daja and Yves provide valuable perspectives on the implications of these schemes for businesses. Join us as we learn practical tips and discover how to navigate the changes to ensure compliance and responsible sourcing practices.

Contracting for nuclear power projects

Senior associates Chris Edwards (Dubai) and Liam Hart (London) discuss contracting for nuclear power projects, including the types of contract commonly used, complexities in resolving disputes and the outlook for the nuclear energy industry in Europe and the Middle East. They delve into the intricacies of the New Engineering Contract (NEC) form commonly used in the UK, South Africa and Hong Kong, as well as exploring the unique aspects of nuclear energy projects and nuclear power’s role in achieving a sustainable future. Tune in to gain insights into the challenges and opportunities when contracting in this area.

Sustainability trends in the aviation sector

Reed Smith partners Hui Ling Teo and Jody Wood and associate Nadia Macci discuss sustainable fuels, competition from other transport modes, and drawbacks of carbon trading. Learn how sustainability is affecting aviation.